by Anisa Fathima
May 6, 2007
It was an action-packed week that began with the appointment of Fr Denis Moras Prabhu as the new Vicar General of Mangalore Diocese. On the same day, a divine intervention through the hands of Capuchin priests saved the life of a one-year-old who had wandered in to the streets in the the midst of rainfall.
Accidents continued to take place and this time, it was not because of bad roads but because of a good one! The newly laid NH 17 was host to as many as six accidents in just 10 days thanks to the rubber mastic bitumen on the road and speeding drivers. The week also witnessed the grand Shri Manmatha Rathotsava (Car Festival) of Shridevi Annapurneshwari Kshetra at Kodyadka which had thousands of devotees thronging the festival presmises.
Meanwhile, Shijo Joseph, an undertrial who has been charged with several thefts escaped from the hands of law when he sneaked out from the remand room, thus posing serious questions about the security, or the the lack of it, in remand rooms.
It was celeberation time once again at Dharmasthala when 171 couples tied the nuptial knot in a simple yet charming mass marriage ceremony. However, sad news came our way announcing the demise of social worker Mohini Appaji Naik, who had dedicated herself to the cause of bringing the differently-abled in to the mainstream education system with the Mangalajyoti Integrated School at Vamanjoor.
Mangalore: Capuchin Priests Save a Year-old Child and Restore it to Parents
Udupi: Smooth Roads – Open Invitation to Fatal Accidents?
Moodbidri: Grand Car Festival of Kodyadka Held - Pics
Mangalore: Undertrial Shijo Joseph (16) Escapes from Remand Home
Beltangady: Dharmasthala Turns into Marriage Hall as 171 Couple Tie Knot
Mangalore: Well-known Social Worker Mohini Appaji Naik (64) Passes away
Technology Helps Infosys Group
Five people belonging to Infosys, Bangalore would not only thank thier lucky stars but also thier mobile network providers. The groups had lost its way while on an adventurous journey in the dense forests near Bandaje. The group then called thier families in Bangalore using thier mobile phones which in turn brought the police, locals, Anti-Naxal Force and the Forest department searching the length and breadth of the forest, at last ending in success.
The incident is a clear example of what thoughtlessness, lack of planning and complacency when travelling to a new place can lead to. The group hadn't even cared to hire a guide nor taken the trouble to find out more than a few lines about the place. There was not even enough food and water provisions to last for long. However, it was probably pure luck that the mobile network which is normally elusive in such places as forests was available. If it was not for that, the five would have probably been left to starve for days before thier families could even inform the authorities.
Not only will the incident be a lesson for other adventurers, but also serve as a great advertisement for the mobile network provider!
Beltangady: Missing Infosys Employees Traced in Dense Forest
Please Adjust 'Maadi' !
Did anyone say that we will not have any water problems for the next 60 days after the Thumbe dam was repaired? Well, well, well, the dam stayed firm without any squeaky leaks, but the water problems continued for two days at the beginning of the week following shifting of pipelines at Thumbe as part of work on four-lane going on.
Agreed, it is as much a responsibility of the citizens to cooperate with the administration as much it is the administration's responsibility to look after the welfare of its people. However, here the problem was not that the MCC stopped water supply, but the way it was done. Most of the citizens were caught unawares and the number of tankers pressed into action was grossly insufficient. Reason - by-elections in Ullal.
Was it total lack of coordination or just plain apathy? Does it mean that the welfare of the citizens should be put aside to cater to election duties? There should at least have been reserve personnel to ensure sufficient supply of tankers, knowing well the impending halt in supplyu. The sufferers at the end were the common citizens who had to run around with buckets to nearby wells.
Thankfully, the thirsty town took only two days to return on track.
Mangalore: City to have No Water on May 1
Cacophony over Kannada in KSRTC
If last week it was the railway station, this time it was the KSRTC that was in the middle of Kannada controversy. The KSRTC action committee alleged that the divissional controller of KSRTC had completely ignored its responsibility to implement Kannada in the Mangalore division.
It seems that the pro-Kannada sentiment is catching up fast and furious. Though it is good to preserve one's state language not just to inculcate the same among the younger generation, but also to avoid amalgamation with or domination of another language, the efforts to do so must not reach fanatical level. With regards to number plates of buses in Kannada, the problem arises when outsiders are taken in to account. The solution of course would be to have it both in Kannada as well as English. However, the majority of the people are the local population who are versed only in the local language. Though most will vouch that it is the local population that has to be given utmost importance, it would be better to have the number plates in English too and therby open our arms to outsiders too.
In a state like Kerala where each and everything is written only and only Malayalam, outsiders tend to feel lost and left out, and shouldn't we make sure that those who come to Karnataka feel welcomed and at home?
Mangalore: Anti-Kannada Stand of KSRTC Official Condemned
From Pieces to Peace: Taking the Right Step Foward
Peace is the only way to counter violence - this is what was proved when the Hindu leaders and the local Jamat in Beltangady solved a matter amicably with talks which ended with the culprits being ousted from the Jamat. Two Muslim youths had stolen a cow belonging to a woman who sought the help of Hindu leaders to bring the thieves to book. However, as in the past, instead of resorting to violence, the leaders of both communities settled the matter amicably, thus setting an example of how far a little application of sense can go.
Both the Hindu organization and the Jamat deserve a pat on the back. True to what the locals said after the incidence, the decision of the Jamat and the way the matter was solved will go a long way in bringing back the tag of a peace loving region, something that we had lost especially after the last October riots. The matter should not be treated as just a flash in the pan but others should take a leaf out it and learn to live in peace and harmony. Most of the inter-community violence has taken place following cow theft or slaughter and hence this incidence becomes even more significant.
If only everybody else follow the same procedure of filing a complaint than resorting to violence, our society would not just be a diamond among the stones but also be able to resist political and social outfits that time and again try to pollute the minds of the otherwise peace loving society. It would be wonderful if the same leaders talked to thier own community members to promote the feeling peace and unity among all.
Beltangady: Jamat Boycotts Two Young Men for Cattle Theft
Animal Conservation - Need of the Hour
Then there was the inuaguration of the first scientific captive breeding centre in the country right here in our very own Pilikula Nisarga Dhama. This is a welcome step and will go a long way in preserving the King Cobra species while also providing a base for similar projects in the future.
Various species of the animal kingdom has been depleting in number for a long time now. King Cobra which happens to be not just a symbol of sanctity but also species intricate to our country, needs to be conserved. The natural habitats of most many species have been destroyed thanks to natural as well as man made disasters, not to mention the depleting forests. Already we have seen a number of cases where leopards, ape and other wild animals have wandered in to the city limits in search of food or shelter. If the scenario does not change, the earth will soon be bereft of wild animals.
We need more breeding centres, sanctuaries and national parks to help in conserving the endangered species. The concept of zoos also should be looked in to as in many of them the animals are not treated well enough and become a mere source of entertainment to thoughtless humans.
Mangalore: India’s First Captive Breeding Centre Inaugurated
Seedy Stituation of Bidi Industry
The end of the week saw bidi owners and workers deciding to stage a week-long protest against the government for issuing a notice to print skull and bones on the bidi packs. The workers argued that it lower the demand for bidis thereby adversely affecting lacs and lacs of workers.
It is a tricky situation wherein both the government as well as the bidi workers are justified in thier arguments. While on the one hand the government is right in showing concern about the health of the citizens, on the other the bidi workers who already struggle to make ends meet will be further pushed in to difficulties. It is the responsibitily of the government and the bidi industry to print warnings on the bidi packs, as consumption of bidis puts millions of consumer's lives at stake. The industry has argued that the printing will mean increase in size of the packs which will in turn lead to increase in price and decrease in demand.
The industry owners and the workers should conduct talks with the government and seek to settle the matter amicably without neither endangering the society nor putting at stake the future of lacs of workers.
Mangalore: Bidi Owners, Workers to Stage Protest from May 5-11
That's all for now - see you next week with a lot more happenings from around the coastal region.
Until then, it's good-bye!
Anisa Fathima
Earlier Weeks:
Anisa Fathima - from 'Exclusive Archives'